IFAJ Congress Kicks Off Wednesday

Chuck Zimmerman September 8, 2008

Cindy and I are on our way to Austria/Slovenia. This year’s IFAJ Congress is looking like it’s going to be a lot of fun. I just hope we get good internet access and have a little time to relax. Those were two issues we had trouble with last year. Here’s some of the activities on the agenda:

Reception with typical sparkling wine in the chamber of Agriculture (Styrian chamber of agriculture )

Reception dinner at the „Alte Universität Graz“ (Old University)

“Agricultural journalists: Responsible for politicians, farmers, consumers or advertisers?” Discussion between journalists and the public

Visit to the famous horse breeding farm in Lipica, presentation by the Spanish Riding School Lipica stud farm

Excursions
Tour I Production of sheep and goat milk and meat products, tasting
Tour II Production of carst prsut – air dried ham, tasting
Tour III Production of local wine Teran

I like the fact that the word “wine” is mentioned frequently in many of the activities. I think you’ll start seeing some content by midday tomorrow. The program really doesn’t start until Wednesday but we’re getting in early to relax for a day. That doesn’t mean no posting though. Let’s hope the planes are on time!

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2008 is sponsored by: and

IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort September 8, 2008

Camelina, an oilseed crop in the same family as mustard, is currently being grown throughout the United States and Canada and crushed to produce biodiesel by Great Plains – The Camelina Company. With several crushing partners in North America, Great Plains has produced over 10 million road miles of camelina biodiesel to date, and plans to boost production to 100 million gallons by the year 2012. Camelina offers a solution for reaching this biodiesel production goal by providing a sustainable, low-input biofuel feedstock option that does not interfere with food production. Camelina is virtually 100 percent efficient. It can be harvested and crushed for oil and the remaining parts can be used to produce high quality omega-3 rich animal feed, fiberboard and glycerin.
Dow AgroSciences LLC announced that it has finalized the acquisition of Dairyland Seed Co., Inc., and Bio-Plant Research. Dow AgroSciences previously announced the agreement to acquire Dairyland Seed and Bio-Plant Research on Aug. 8, 2008.
Building on momentum from fiscal 2006-2007, MGEX (Minneapolis Grain Exchange or Exchange) ended its fiscal year with new total exchange volume of 1,684,439 contracts traded, a 4 percent increase over the previous year and 3.8 percent increase over the former record year of 2005-2006. Click here for full details.
New Holland tractor owners working with variable rate planting and spraying equipment now have the convenience of using New Holland’s Precision Land Management IntelliView™ Plus II monitors with two popular third-party variable rate controllers. The IntelliView Plus II monitors also feature a new user interface for New Holland pull-type sprayers and air carts to more easily manage and track field and production data and produce prescription maps.

Zimfo Bytes

Ready To Call It An AgNite

Chuck Zimmerman September 7, 2008

Cindy and I were so impressed with AgNite that we just had to talk about it on this week’s ZimmCast. Let’s face it. Get over 5,000 people together and have the whole thing hosted by ag companies and organizations that don’t always see eye to eye and I’d say you’ve accomplished something!

This week’s program includes an AgNite wrap-up with Daryn McBeth, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council. He and his staff earned some time off last week after preparing for AgNite for over a year and then working around the clock to make it happen.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 186 (14 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview with Daryn McBeth - ZimmCast 185

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Ag Groups, Audio, ZimmCast

Eat More Meat and Heat Things Up

Chuck Zimmerman September 7, 2008

I was wondering if there would be anything to post late on a Sunday and the animal rights activist wackos provided some fodder. Okay, to start with, there are still some people claiming something called global warming. Yeah, right. Tell that to all the farmers who haven’t received enough heat this year to grow a decent crop.

Now we’ve got this wacko and prize winner saying we should all eat less meat in the name of planetary welfare. I grilled a couple of pork tenderloins tonight and they were delicious. I’m hoping to enjoy more of the same in Europe during the next couple of weeks while Cindy and I are attending the IFAJ Congress too.

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize is calling on individuals to cut their carbon footprints by transforming their diets at a lecture hosted by Compassion in World Farming lecture in London tomorrow (Monday 8 September 2008).

Current global animal production is responsible for 18 per cent of all human-induced GHG emissions, with more than 60 billion farm animals reared each year. That figure is set to double by 2050. The need to change our diet is increasingly urgent.

An average household would reduce the impact of their greenhouse gas emissions by more if they halved their meat consumption than if they halved their car usage.

“If we continue to consume meat and dairy at the current rate both animals and the planet will suffer. Factory farming is unsustainable and inhumane. The best thing people can do is eat less meat and dairy and eat only higher welfare – organic and free-range,” says Joyce D’Silva, Ambassador for Compassion in World Farming.

Oh, wahhh. Give me a break.

Wackos

MOSES is Organic

Chuck Zimmerman September 7, 2008

MOSES is the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service. At the Farm Progress Show, their outreach coordinator, Harriet Behar, visited the media tent.

One of the first things I asked her was just what “organic” means. She says it’s a sustainable method of farming that uses on-farm produced inputs. “Only products that have met the organic regulations are allowed to carry the organic label in the market place.”

She was at the show to help educate people about what they’re doing and to promote organic farming. She says their mission is to not only to promote but also to provide farmers with the tools to be successful organic farmers.

Apparently there is a growing market for organic products. Harriet says that the market is growing 20%/year. She says that organic products get a premium price. For example, she says that organic corn has been selling for $11/bushel and soybeans at $16 – 18/bushel.

Listen to my interview with Harriet here: fp-08-behar.mp3

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Farming

John Deere Announces New Marketing/Sales Center

Chuck Zimmerman September 5, 2008

John Deere was a sponsor of this week’s AgNite event in Minneapolis and there was green equipment on display. It’s a busy week for the company. Not only were they involved in a big event that was held in conjunction with the RNC but today they announced plans to build a new marketing and sales center in Olathe, KS. We had reporter Mike Rogers on hand to conduct interviews for us. He interviewed John Lagemann, Vice President of Sales and Tim Merrett, John Deere’s Vice President of Marketing together and also Barry Nelson, John Deere Manager, Public Relations.

Listen to Mike’s interview with John and Tim here: deere-sales-center-1.mp3

You can download the interview using this link: John Lagemann/Tim Merrett Interview (mp3)

Listen to Mike’s interview with Barry here: deere-sales-center-2.mp3

You can download the interview using this link: Barry Nelson Interview (mp3)

John Deere and the city of Olathe, KS announced today that John Deere will build a new marketing and sales center in northwest Olathe, in the Corporate Ridge Office Park, near K 10 and Ridgeview Road. This 126,150 square-foot facility will house more than 400 marketing professionals who provide support and service to John Deere sales branches and agricultural dealerships in the U.S. and Canada.

“This state-of-the-art facility will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Certification, Gold Level,” said John Lagemann, vice president of agricultural equipment, sales for U.S. and Canada. “It will provide an exceptional working environment for our employees who work in our industry-leading marketing organization. We’re proud of our commitment to the greater Kansas City area – a geographic, cultural center for agriculture.”

This picture includes: John Lagemann; Tim Merrett and the Mayor of Olathe.

Full Release

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere

AgNite Wrap-up

Chuck Zimmerman September 5, 2008

I’m not sure how I got in touch with Daryn McBeth, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council today but I’m glad I did. I think he and his staff have earned some time off this week after putting on one incredible event Tuesday evening – AgNite.

I got some wrap-up comments from him starting with attendance. Daryn says that they counted over 5,000 people who attended the event! That exceeded all expectations. He walked around a lot and met with all types of people (agriculture stakeholders, convention delegates, elected leaders and even foreign dignitaries). He says that’s exactly what they wanted.

One of the things that impressed Cindy and me most about the event is how well it showed a unified agriculture. There were people there from all aspects of agribusiness who don’t always see eye to eye. Daryn says that he’s seen this mentioned in a number of stories that have been published about the event already. He says they purposefully showcased the diversity of agriculture and even celebrated it.

One of the things that stood out for him was, “A journalist who was at the event pointed out to me that as she walked through the room, she thought that folks from the food and ag sector who were there . . . seemed to be (have) a sense of pride.” He says, “That hits the nail right on the head.”

Daryn says they’re going to chalk it up as a success and that time will tell if they made a positive impact. He says that it has been hard for his staff to let it go now and that it’s fun monitoring the coverage by Googling around. I also found it hard to believe that they got the whole event torn down in 6 hours since their contract with the Depot required them to be out by 8am!

Listen to my interview with Daryn here: agnite-08-mcbeth-wrap.mp3

Be sure to check out the AgNite Photo Album for 200 pictures from the event.

AgWired coverage of AgNite is sponsored by: and

Audio

iCORN.com Video Contest

Chuck Zimmerman September 5, 2008

An “almost anything goes” video contest for a seed corn company sounds very cutting edge doesn’t it? That’s what iCORN.com is doing.

iCORN.com has launched a new $30,000 video contest as a way to help students pay for college and to show appreciation to its customers. The new video contest gives students an opportunity to win a share of $30,000 by posting videos online for public voting. The videos receiving the most votes win.

Three main steps comprise the contest:

1. A new, current or former iCORN.com customer nominates a student.

2. The nominated student makes an original video (up to 90 seconds) and submits it to the contest website, www.iCORN.com/Contest.

3. Online public voting determines which 3 students win a share of $30,000 ($20,000 for first, $7,500 for second and $2,500 for third). Read More

Agribusiness, Corn, Seed

New Holland Says Size Matters

Chuck Zimmerman September 5, 2008

At last week’s Farm Progress Show (yes, I know, but I’m getting caught up) I met Jim Moellenberndt, New Holland Business Manager, Cash Crops. He was proudly displaying the “largest combine in North America” because “Size Matters.”

He’s standing next to a 9080 CR Combine. He says, “It’s the largest combine in North America, 523 Max HP. It’s just a real awesome machine.” He says they’ve had one running on a wheat harvest job and that it has done a fantastic job. A lot of people have been approaching him and commenting on the horse power, saying they remember using one with 90 HP.

I asked him if they gave quantity discounts for these monsters. He says they’ll gladly “work with you” all the way up to a half dozen! They were taking orders at the show for a July 2009 delivery. Get your name on the list today!

You can listen to my interview with Jim here: fp-08-moellenberndt.mp3

You can also download the audio file with this link.

Check out our Farm Progress Show 2008 Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: and

Audio, BASF, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland

AgNite Got Cheesy

Chuck Zimmerman September 5, 2008

AgNite at the RNC was all about showcasing American food and agriculture.

One of the most interesting displays included 3 large blocks of cheese. These were donated by Associated Milk Producers Incorporated. They’re not something you’d have room in your refrigerator for since each block weighs 690 pounds!

The people working the display got a serious workout slicing off the blocks all evening long. I tried a little of each and it was delicious.

Be sure to check out the AgNite Photo Album for 200 pictures from the event.

AgWired coverage of AgNite is sponsored by: and

Ag Groups, Dairy

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